Roots:Shadow over Innsmouth, Quatermass II (meteorite
invasion), The War of the Worlds (space-faring cylinders). The alien
seaweed and heartbeat soundtrack echo 'Fury from the Deep', also written
by Pemberton. The Doctor sings 'Hello Dolly!' and asks Sarah 'What do you
take me for, the Pied Piper of Hamlin?'

Fluffs: 'Soon the planet would be no more than a vast galaxy...'

Goofs: London sounds to be almost entirely populated by terrified
women in episode 1. In response, the military go all-out in episode 2,
filling the air with ricochets. According to the Doctor, the lion is the
'undisputed king of the jungle'; he also refers to 'the galactic universe
and solar system'.

Double Entendres: 'This is a fine time to play with your piccolo!'
'I always play the piccolo when I'm nervous. It relieves the tension'

Dialogue Disasters: 'Even my goose pimples have goose pimples'.

Continuity: Pescatons have their origins in the carchariidae
(the shark family) and look 'half-human, half fish' The Doctor describes
them as 'the most voracious and hostile creatures [he's] ever known'. They
have the head and body and texture of a shark, with teeth as sharp as nails,
fins with claws and glowing slit emerald eyes. On land they move slowly
on two webbed feet and tower over humans, can grow a steel-like protective
skin, are immune to bullets and the effects of electricity, but cannot
endure long periods out of salt water. Pesca, their home planet is perhaps
millions of years old, belonging to a dying solar system in the constellation
of Pisces. It was once covered by vast oceans, but is now nothing but a
wilderness, its oceans vapourising as it nears its [one] sun in a decaying
orbit. It supported both marine and terrestrial life and featured snow-capped
mountains in its prime. [Of note, earth's sun enters the constellation
of Pisces during the months of march and April, which could explain how
it was so easy for the Pescatons to reach Earth, given the two planets'
close proximity at that time].

The Pescaton civilisation is perhaps thousands of years old,
incorporating vast underground saltwater lakes. Space travel is made possible
in meteor-like cylindrical craft. Their leader and controller (without
whom they cannot survive) is Zor the all-powerful, a larger creature with
an enlarged oval head, silver scales and transparent eyes through which
a [cybernetic] brain like a great computer can be seen. He has the power
to hypnotise others including, possibly, the Doctor. Pescatons, like sharks,
cannot endure prolonged high-pitched noise and, unlike sharks, disintegrate
after prolonged exposure to it.

The Doctor refers to the 'special powers' he has been 'gifted'
with [presumably he is referring to his Time Lord powers and his ability
to time travel, which is what Zor wanted to exploit to find a new home].

A government underwater expedition has been set up [in association
with the eminent astronomer Professor Emerson] to investigate the meteorite
landings (there were other landings some years earlier). The Doctor carries
a piccolo in his pocket.

Location: The Thames estuary, London Zoo and greater London,
February [given our placement of this story after 'The Seeds of Doom',
we suggest February 1974]. And, in a flashback, the planet Pesca in the
constellation of Pisces 'back in the fifteenth century'

Untelevised Adventures: The Doctor's first visit to Pesca happened
[presumably] during his fourth incarnation, during which time he traveled
alone. This suggests that it occurred after his first encounter with Xoanon
('The Face of Evil').

The Bottom Line: 'It was an experience I shall not forget. In
future I shall travel by bus'.

'The Pescatons', a story aimed at children,
still has its own fans who cherish it like a glowing emerald. Charmingly,
it features a Doctor who admits to being terrified, awestruck and intensely
curious; and who at once fails to recognise the coastline of England.
Thoroughly intimate and unashamedly juvenile experience.